Description

What is Lye Water (lihiya)

Lye Water (lihiya) 310g Buenas (or Lihia sa tagalog) is a Food Enhancer Concentrate made from an alkaline strong liquid or a potassium carbonate solution.

In the Philippines, Lye water is used in different “Kakanin” recipe or Native Filipino Desserts such as Pichi-pichi, Kutchinta at Suman sa Lihiya. Lye water makes these kakanin elastic and gooey in texture.

It is also used to make ramen noodles that gives them their distinctive yellow colour, and bouncy texture. It helps prevent them from breaking apart in the broth while cooking to endure the boiling process.

In other parts of the world, it is used for European breads, like bagels and pretzels and Chinese moon cakes to help them produce a richer brown surface during cooking. The alkali is also used for the Scandinavian delicacy lutefisk, while Chinese century eggs are ussually made by soaking it in a lye-salt brine